The Expert’s Guide to Sustainable Gardening

What is a sustainable garden?

Sustainable has become a bit of a buzzword. Eco-friendly solutions are great for us and the environment, but how exactly do we know our gardens are sustainable?

Andrew Beck of Sustainable Landscape Design Perth explains that sustainable gardens should “be mainly self-sustaining and planned for the long-term (without) the continual input of large amounts of water, external energy and consumables to survive.”

Indigenous plants

For a spectacular and sustainable garden you need only look to Australia’s diverse range of natural flora for everything from trees and plants to shrubs and ground cover. There are thousands of species to discover. Many of which look beautiful and require little maintenance, consider:

The Banksia Tree’s distinctive candle shaped flowers are one of Australia’s best known plants.

Gum trees are an iconic Australian tree that is simple to grow in most climate conditions with moderate watering. For sustainable growing, consider purchasing seedlings from a nursery, as growing from seed or cuttings can be quite difficult.

Our national emblem, the Wattle Tree grows in shade or sun. There are over 1200 species of acacia. Some prefer the coast, while others are at home in our country’s dry interior. The Wattle typically grows as a shrub but some grow to tree height.

Feature stonework

Rocks, stones and pebbles are used in sustainable gardens. Sourced from local quarries, you can use stonework to:

Create staircases and paths

Direct water flow

Supplement garden bends and lawns

Reduce the amount of soil and water required

Rocks and stones are as much as part of the Australian landscape as plants and shrubs. Pavers and pebbles with considerately placed local flora can create clean, livable exterior spaces that are self sustaining code the long term.

Grey water is good water

Rainfall provides more than we can use. A rainwater tank or rainwater collection system helps keep your garden sustainable by storing rainwater for later use, reducing and in some cases eliminating the need to use mains water for your garden.

Your rainwater collection system can be supplemented with:

Subsurface irrigation to reduce moisture loss.

Raingardens and bioswales

Buckets water collection

Simple and elegant rainwater solutions will save money and help you along the path to success

Make your own mulch

Garden waste and byproducts can be recycled to keep your garden healthy mulch can be made from;

Lawn clippings (dry)

Leaves and plant material

Hay and straw

Sawdust

Old wood chips

Compost

Avoid using:

Organic matter exposed to pesticides and toxins

Fresh wood chips (can deprive soil of nitrogen)

Weeds or seedlings

How to apply mulch

Environment NSW recommends applying mulch to a depth of between 5 to 10 centimetres around your plants, leaving stems and trunks with some breathing room. Allow mulch to mature for a few weeks before application, while gravel and stones can be used as ground cover around your plants to reduce evaporation and prevent the growth of weeds.

The benefits of mulch

Mulch doesn’t just help your plants grow. It can:

Reduce water loss

Reduce soil erosion

Reduce organic material going into landfill

Improve plant and soil health

Increase the presence of worms and other biological activity.

For best results, combine mulching with other sustainable practices like composting and greywater collection

Composting

Composting lets you turn organic food waste into useful nutrients for your garden. Sustainability wise, it cuts down on the need to purchase soil, manure and mulching materials for your garden, as you’ll be creating your own nutrient dense mulch instead.

How to compost

Composting is easy, once you get the hang of it, it’s as easy as taking out the garbage.

First, you’ll need to find a shady spot in the garden to place your compost heap or bin.

Your compost can be a pile, or you can use a bin. Ideal bins include:

Plastic bins (with or without ventilation).

Metal drums with their bases removed and holes in the sides

Enclosures made from bricks, timber and wire.

Add compost in layers. Ideal ingredients include:

Food scraps

Clippings from your garden

Paper

Eggshells

Teabags

Vacuum dust

Compost requires of ratio of 3:1 ‘brown’ to ‘green’ matter. Brown is rich in carbon, while green is rich in nitrogen.

What not to compost

The following materials should never be used in your compost:

Meat, fats and bones

Dairy

Breads and cakes

Pet droppings

Join the sustainability revolution

Sustainability is more than just rocks and rainwater, it’s a way of life. Chances are, there’s probably many like minded greenthumbs in your neighbourhood. Community garden projects can be a great way to bring people together and share ideas on creating more sustainable habitats and gardens. If you’re still not sure where to start, you can always find a gardener local to you to help out. Learn and share with others, and you’ll be an expert in no time.